On 26 July 1914, Laszlo Count Szogyeny, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to Germany (pictured), sent a coded private telegram to Leopold Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs. In his telegram, Szogyeny informs Berchtold of German intelligence that foresees the imminent general mobilisation of the Russian Army.

Laszlo Count Szogyeny

Count Szogyeny to Count Berchtold. Berlin, 26 July 1914.

Cyphered.—Private.

Russian armaments.

The German military attaché in Petersburg reports that Gardes-du-Corps [note: a Russian regiment] have received orders to return to Krasnojeselo, also that all regiments must return to their garrisons, and that manoeuvres are interrupted.

At the same time the German General Staff has received news, which is not considered certain, but according to which four years of Russian reserves have been called to arms. If this should be confirmed, the German General Staff thinks that it means that the general mobilisation has been ordered in Russia.

Besides this, there is news, also not quite reliable, that the military districts of Moscow, Warsaw, Kiev and Odessa have been mobilised.

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